MOURNERS who regularly visit East Cemetery in Geneva Road, Darlington, say they believe it is being neglected.

Pauline Swales, 60, who has been visiting the cemetery every other day since her six month-old daughter, Allison, died 35 years ago, said it has deteriorated from a blissful place to a frightening place to go.

Along with other mourners, she has discussed paying for private security to stop the vandalism she says is rife, but thinks any approach to the council would be fruitless.

"It used to be a pure pleasure to come in here and when you went out you felt better for coming, but now it's just a nightmare," she said.

Mrs Swales, whose parents are also buried in the cemetery, said she would like to see security fencing installed, such as that at the town's bowling clubs, or to have a more visible security presence to deter the crime.

And she says the gates are no longer locked at night, having passed as late as 11pm to see them standing open.

"It's soul destroying. It's used as a thoroughfare and a football pitch for kids and there are people drinking," she said.

John Blanchard, who has been visiting a family grave since 1976, said people stole flowers that had been left at the headstones.

"They even steal the flowers on Mother's Day," he said. "As soon as you put flowers on, they are gone."

James Roy said that the state of the cemetery had deteriorated since January.

He said that until January there was to be a full-time member of staff who maintained the cemetery.

A spokesman for the council said that there had been no changes to the staffing at East Cemetery.

But he did say that there had been problems caused by wet weather last month.

"We can damage turf and grave sides, but whatever damage we cause, we repair.

"Similarly we have ordered tracking to help us get across the grass areas without damaging it and that will help us in the future."

He said a five-year programme to care for parks, open spaces and cemeteries has been devised by the council, with work on footpaths set to start soon